Professionals witnessing climate change are in a unique position to participate in the debate about global warming. They may act as advocates and stress a particular side of the debate, but they have a different obligation to the public than a citizen. Their witnessing must be impartial and objective to ensure the facts are correct.

Witnessing is not an easy task. There are practical constraints as well as political pressure. There are tensions between the obligation of serving the public and the obligation to respect professional knowledge. In addition, professional witnessing requires a clear and persuasive communication style to engage the public. Tension is created by the need to be persuasive in public speech and the obligation to present expert knowledge responsibly.

In criminal cases, professional witnesses can be called to testify in court. The Procurator Fiscal, Reporter to the Children’s Panel, or other legal counsel may summon them. They may also be summoned by a defense attorney, family lawyer or child lawyer. Witnesses will be given formal notices that they are required to attend in these cases.

In some cases, a professional witness will be called upon to give oral evidence. Their role will be to interpret the facts of a case. They will be required to take oath before the court. This requires a clear understanding of their role and the GMC guidelines when giving evidence. The witness should be ready to answer questions from the barristers during the trial.

Expert testimony is an essential component of criminal and civil cases. Forensic experts often testify. Their expertise in a field will assist the judge in understanding complex scientific issues. These professionals are essential in deciding the fate a case. The role of an expert witness varies from one case to the next.

For litigators, it is standard practice to conduct a thorough investigation of the opposing expert witnesses. A failure to thoroughly vet an expert witness can expose an attorney to professional liability or even a negligence claim. Therefore, it is imperative to do research on the topic and identify thought leaders and respected professionals. The objective of conducting research is to have a clear understanding of the subject and determine if the expert opinion is helpful to the case.

Expert witnesses must establish a proper chain for custody of the evidence they provide. This chain of custody includes scholarly works, field studies and trainings that build a firm foundation of knowledge. They must also prepare a report prior to trial. This allows the opposing party the opportunity to cross-examine them.